Savage Rome

Rest and recreation

It took the best part of the morning to reach Paulus‘s villa. As the entourage neared the villa, a figure approached them: this was Abraham, Paulus’s head slave. Welcoming the group Abraham dashed back to the Villa to make arrangements and alert his master. The group noticed a matronly figure in the Villa Garden. Spotting them the figure ran briskly to the Villa.

Abraham welcomed the group and led them through to his master’s atrium, where a dishevelled Paulus emerged to great them. They were all made welcome and invited to enjoy the hospitality of the Villa. There was no news of the missing Gaius Marcius Regillus but Paulus was overjoyed to meet Anaxagoras.

Lucius and Quintus have a restless night; Lucius gets into a fight

There sleep was disturbed by a barely human wailing from the depths of the tower. Lucius sent Quintus to investigate and silence to disturbance. After a few minutes the wailing stopped and Quintus returned. Lucius congratulated Quintus, who explained that it was nothing to do with him. Montanus had been sitting on his dais in the hall and advised Quintus to go back to his master, as one of his men clambered up from below the tower, smiling and nursing his bruised knuckles.

Lucius was awoken by Quintus the Slave who after giving him a rub down with olive oil and a good scrape, fetched breakfast. They then descended to the hall as the Tribune with his shadow, Leandro marched in. Marcus Tullius Montanus reclined on his ‘throne’. Banter was exchanged, in which the old soldiers mocked Lucius’ military expertise. Offended, Lucius was led into accepting a challenge from Titus
to a fight with rudius, the wooden sword.

The Germans and Greek attempted to blend into the background as the garrison formed an informal ring and started laying bets. Tribune Nerva put a small bet on Lucius.

Titus landed the first blow, but Lucius responded with a firm blow, much to Titus’ surprise. Enraged, he struck Lucius, knocking him to the ground. Lucius prone form received a good kicking before Ragnar threw a stone at Titus, distracting him long enough for his fellow legionaries to haul him away.

The group of German farmers set off into the dark, leaving everyone else to settle as best they could. Musa and Flavia retired to their house through a connecting door. The observant Anaxagoras noticed the knowing looks exchanged between Anyaka and Flavia.

When everyone seemed to be asleep only the ever watchful Ragnar noticed Anyaka slip through the connecting door to Musa’ house and the waiting Flavia.

Everyone in the tavern woke as Anyaka tripped through the door to Musa‘s house and into a table. It was then that Anaxagoras found a bag next to him. Opening it he let out a scream as he chucked the human head it contained towards the exit. As the sound of approaching footsteps from Musa’s house reached them, Ragnar scooped up the head and returned it to the bag, which I took from the shaken Greek.

Musa asked what the screaming was about and suggested that it was time that everyone was on their way, asking the Tribune to take the vomit stained Facilis with him.

Marcus Tullius Montanus sat on a throne on a dais draped in wolf and bear furs. On the back of the throne flapped a large eagle, Around the hall loitered a number of Roman soldiers who had adopted elements of German dress. Marcus Tullius Montanus questioned the hapless three and Quintus the Slave, speaking out of turn, almost received a flogging.

Magnus Minor: a grim discovery

The morning commenced with light drizzle. There was no debate about which way to go nor any new arrivals. After the events of the previous night the party were keen to push on to Magnus Major.

After about an hour the ruins of Magnus Minor were spied down the track. Barely one stone stood up another. It was here that a grim discovery was made. There were five bodies, four legionaries and a fifth, dessicated corpse. The legionaries had all been beheaded and the heads were missing. The unidentified corpse may or may not be that of Gaius Marcius Regillus .

Quintus the Slave was set to give the Romans a burial apart from one, that was being nibbled by a passing wolf. Ragnar dragged the mangled corpse to the edge of the village clearing.

Ragnar, Lucius Julius Regillus and the faithful Quintus the Slave followed the trail of the cavalryman as it descended a slope towards a small river. Coming to a steep drop, they spotted a fallen horse with a figure trapped beneath it. Ragnar saw a dark figure slip into the cold river. The pursuers descended the drop, using Ragnar’s ropes.

The found the legionary crushed beneath the horse. He was alive, but only just. Lucius Julius Regillus demanded to know what had happened to his uncle, Gaius Marcius Regillus. The legionary gasped “Dead” before passing away himself. Surveying the scene the players noted the legionary grasped his bloodied sword in one hand and his other hand clutched something to his chest. Ragnar sliced off the hand and opened it to reveal a perfectly round black pebble. Lucius Julius Regillus handed the pebble to Quintus the Slave to keep safe.

It was a late start and as the rain turned to sleet it became apparent that they would not pass through the haunted ruins of Magnus Major before nightfall Herman the German recommended halting in a clearing a mile or so from the village.

The Debate

There followed chaotic scene as the party argued about where to go; whether to continue east or turn back through Magus Minor.

Tribune Gaius Cassus Nerva really didn’t care and cared even less when he found two amphora of fine wine among the gifts packed for Mamercus Cassius Paulus. After a few deep swigs the merry tribune tried to force everyone else to join him in a drink.

Anaxagoras the Greek was convinced that the party should abandon the Senators baggage and head east to get to Magnus Major as quickly as possible. Herman the German was in agreement, fearing to pass through the haunted ruins of Magnus Minor. Lucius Julius Regillus however refused to abandon his uncles baggage.

At this moment Herman the German emerged from the road east with another new arrival. A petite young girl of outstanding beauty marred only by a missing arm. The party questioned the new arrival, Tribune Gaius Cassus Nerva questions being interspersed with lewd and unrepeatable suggestions.

At this point the sound of cavalry approaching from the east halted the interrogation of the new arrivals.